Arm Lift Surgery Candidates

By Sheryl Pilcher on May 08, 2012

Short-sleeved shirts and tank tops can help keep you cool on hot, sunny days. But wearing clothing that reveals this area of the body can make you feel self-conscious if you are not comfortable with the appearance of your upper arms. For some men and women, the skin on the upper arms becomes loose as a result of age, weight loss, or genetics, contributing to a drooping or sagging appearance.

At Accent Plastic Surgery in San Antonio, Dr. Sheryl Pilcher has treated a number of patients that have excess skin on the upper arms. Dr. Pilcher performs arm lift surgery to permanently reduce skin laxity and produce a more toned upper arm appearance.

Arm Lift Candidates

Arm lift candidates should be in good health, non-smokers, and have realistic expectations about surgery and the resulting scars. Reasons for arm lift surgery include:

Weight Loss: The arm lift is one of the most commonly performed procedures for patients that have lost significant amounts of weight due to bariatric surgery or successful dieting. When patients gain weight, the skin stretches out to accommodate the additional mass. The skin may shrink back down, to some degree, if patients lose weight. However, in cases involving massive weight loss, skin tightening surgery such as arm lift is often required to permanently excise the excess skin that has developed.

Age: The skin on the upper arms may become looser as a result of the aging process.

Genetics: Some men and women may be more prone to skin laxity in the upper arm area due to genetics. Certain patients, even those that are naturally thin and work out regularly, will develop excess skin on the upper arms.

Arm Lift Surgery

Dr. Pilcher performs three types of surgery on the arms. The technique that is best suited to each San Antonio body contouring patient is dependent on the extent of skin laxity.

Liposuction: Liposuction may be performed alone, or in conjunction with your arm lift procedure. If you have a small amount of excess fat on the upper arms, along with good skin contraction, liposuction may produce sufficient results. With liposuction, several micro incisions are made in the arms, and fat is suctioned out of the area to produce a smoother contour.

Arm lift surgery: If you have poor skin tone and moderate areas of excess skin and fat, the arm lift procedure is more likely to produce desired results. The arm lift procedure involves the creation of an incision in the armpit; excess skin is removed and tightened, and the incision is closed. Liposuction may also be performed to remove excess fat.

Extended arm lift surgery: Patients with severe upper arm skin laxity will benefit from the extended arm lift procedure. The extended arm lift requires a larger incision; it starts in the armpit, and extends down the back of the arm to the elbow. Although this approach results in a longer scar, it allows Dr. Pilcher to permanently remove the extra skin that has accumulated on the arms.